Indeed, most writers have several rationales for working with a co-author ranging from large volumes of interesting topics to not having an inkling of what to write. Today, lots of writers have found it quite interesting to co-author their books with various writers as it gives them more perks to make their work look more creative and in-depth.
As a beginner in writing, it is very important to ask specific questions on how to find a co-author for a book. This will help put you in the right direction while creating that lovely book that will attract your audience.
Hence, in this article, we will be sharing with you all that you need to know on how to find the right co-author for a book. Ensure, you read till the end.
Who Is a Co-author?
A co-author is an individual who teams up with a lead author and makes a substantial contribution to a book/ article/ journal /manuscript.
Also, note that another name for a co-author is a corresponding author. It’s a well-known fact that no two writers write the same way. Hence, when co-authors work with a lead author, they help to complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses. This makes the writing process fast, allows the lead author to make more connections with his co-author’s audience, gets emotional support, and lots more.
How to Find a Co-author for a Book
To find a co-author for your book, you can search various social media platforms like Facebook, Linkedin, and Instagram. Also, you can find a co-author on Upwork, Fiverr, and PeoplePerHour.
These platforms have professional writers that can help you to co-author your book.
However, you need to be careful and avoid scammers. When you are searching for a co-author on social media, ensure that the person has a verifiable social media account with clear pictures of the person. If possible, you can contact the person on the phone before dealing with him or her.
There are various author groups on Facebook that you can join and find a co-author for your book.
Furthermore, if you wish to find a co-author on freelance platforms, ensure that the person has good reviews.
Another place to find a co-author is through family members and event gatherings like seminars or workshops. These places will expose you to people with like minds who will help you to ensure that your ideas are translated into a book.
Basic questions to ask when choosing a co-author
Here are the basic questions you should ask before co-authoring a book with another writer:
- Have you carried out your due diligence on your potential co-author?
- Is your co-author open to critique?
- How will you divide the work with your co-author?
- Can I be all in for this work?
- How do you know when to stop?
Have You Carried Out Your Due Diligence on Your Potential Co-author?
The various stages of the writing process ( ranging from the birth of the concept to publishing the book, and more) can go on for several months/years. This is why it is very important to know and understand the person you are going to work with. Carrying out your due diligence on your co-author will go a long way in ensuring the success of your new book.
We recommend that you converse one-on-one (via chats or phone calls) with your co-author weeks before you commence work with him/her. This will help you get comfortable with each other as you will be able to access his/her personality and understand how he/she works to avoid conflict during the writing process.
Is Your Co-author Open to Critique?
How open is your new partner to criticism? If he/she is not open to learning new things from you but sticks to his/her own knowledge, then you should avoid co-authoring with such a person.
This is why it is very crucial to take cognizance of your conversations with your new partner in the aspect of writing or editing a book. Indeed it is possible for you not to know one’s character from a few conversations, however, we recommend that you follow your instincts before concluding to work with them.
On the bright side, work with a writer who is ready to learn more about the topic/book involved. This will make the writing process faster and smoother for both of you since you agree on the same thing.
How Will You Divide the Work With Your Co-author?
Depending on the volume of the book you are working on, we however recommend that the role of lead author should be given to any of the writers with the most experience. It is not so easy to divide the writing work between authors obviously, this is why it is important to give more work to the writer with more knowledge on the type of topic or book you are working on.
Can I Be All in for This Work?
For this writing process to be successful, both the lead author and the co-author must work together and be willing to come to terms with several things. Ranging from the amount of money spent on publishing to the creation of a good market plan, and others. Note that the writing process can be quite tedious especially if you are writing on a large volume of a book.
Hence, before considering co-authoring with another writer, we recommend that you should ask yourself the following question such as:
- How much time am I putting into this writing?
- How much money am I thrusting into this project?
- How much time am I dedicating to developing a great market plan?
- Can a co-author join me in publishing the work?
- Can I co-author a book and still network?
- How do I cope with the conflict between I and my co-author?
If you can answer each of the aforementioned questions positively without a taint of doubt in your mind, then it means you are fully ready to work with another writer.
It is also ideal to let go of the most likely problems before you commence work on the book. This gives you clarity on what you would love to achieve in the book.
How Do You Know When to Stop?
This question is very essential for all writers working on any type of project with/without a co-author. As a writer, once you have stretched to the limit where you become blank or lack knowledge in a specific topic, it is best to suspend the writing process till you are certain of what to pen down again.
Perhaps you co-authored with someone who has no idea about the topic of the book you are working on. It is better to stop working with the coauthor and find another writer who is knowledgeable in the topic area to work with.
Also, we recommend that you stop the writing process of your new book once you discover that the co-author is not aligning with your own vision but sticking to his/her own.
Tips on Making Co-authoring Work
Here are the simple tips that can help make a writing process with another person easy:
- Choose an experienced writer to work with
- Come up with plans on how to settle future conflicts with your co-author
- Be mindful of your partner’s feelings, hence criticize him/her constructively
- Set boundaries between work and friendship with your co-author
Conclusion
As aforementioned in this article, co-authoring has lots of perks attached to the writing process that makes it quite fun to do. However, there are also cons to finding a co-author for a book including inconsistent writing styles, funding from conception to publishing the book, disagreeing opinions, inability to take criticism, and more. This is why as lead author, you must dedicate your time to finding a partner that will not only write but also make your book a delight to read.
We also recommend that you choose a writer who is an expert in the area of the topic you are working on.
